Chamber Executive Director Resigns

Johnson has inducted several new businesses to the chamber gang and also provided the city of St. James with a new annual celebration – The Chillabration. The Chillabration raised about $5,000 for the area and provided some fun events for the winter including the polar plunge and ice fishing contest.

The St. James Area Chamber of Commerce board received and accepted the resignation of Chamber Executive Director Tabitha Johnson as of April 9, 2013.

Johnson will continue to serve as Executive Director until April 25, 2013. At that time hours will fluctuate depending on the availability of Jennie Geiger-Firchau.

Johnson said though she enjoyed working as the chamber director during the last year, the position is not a good fit at this time.

“There is probably someone better suited for the position than myself at this time,” said Johnson. “I’m going to see where the road takes me.”

Johnson has inducted several new businesses to the chamber gang and also provided the city of St. James with a new annual celebration – The Chillabration. The Chillabration raised about $5,000 for the area and provided some fun events for the winter including the polar plunge and ice fishing contest.

Also returning during Johnson’s time as director was the holiday festival and Holidazzle parade.

Johnson is looking forward to spending some time with her children and is unsure of where she will go moving forward from this position. There was some talk about returning to her business Fabtabulous LLC.

“Fabtabulous LLC was started back in 2007 in the cities, highly successful even during the turn of the economy, and that's what I was doing before the chamber,” said Johnson. “I will consider maybe revisiting that after I leave here.”

Fabtabulous is a business that focuses on event coordinating, training, social media, graphic design, professional organizing as well as e-news letters, book keeping or special projects.

According to a press release by the Chamber Board President Ellie Kulseth, a search for a new Chamber Executive Director will be underway very soon.